Ultimate Skill Reload – Chapter 24: Shackles (Part 2)
"Spike!" Bill shouted, dashing forward the moment she drew the blade strapped to her waist.
Sprinting past the confused watch guards, he positioned himself between her and Frank. "You bastard!" Spike spat, swinging the blade in a sharp arc.
"Woah, woah, woah!!" Frank cried out, yanking his bound body to the side, barely evading.
"Spike!" Bill barked again, grabbing her wrist mid-swing. He planted himself firmly between her and the chained man on the floor.
"You're better than this, for damn's sake!" he said, voice strained as he held her back.
Astrid strode in right behind them, her boots clicking against the stone.
"Jeez, please pull it together," Bill muttered, still trying to hold Spike steady.
"Please... listen to Bill," Astrid said softly, eyes fixed on Spike. "We feel it too, ya know? He meant something to all of us."
Spike clenched her jaw.
"I know what Jack said was wrong," Bill said. "But he's not wrong about one thing. Jack doesn't care about us. He cares about protocol. And you know that."
Her breathing slowed slightly.
"I said it. I expected a punch for it, but here we are," Bill added, stepping back a little.
Spike sighed deeply and turned away.
"You must be some stupid little girl, you know that?" Frank said suddenly from behind Bill.
"Hey! Watch it!" Bill growled, whirling around to face him.
Spike looked over her shoulder.
"Stop what!?" Frank asked, voice low, but cutting. "I didn't ask for any of this."
He raised his cuffed hands, gesturing to the collar around his neck. "That 'leader' of yours? He's nuts. I know I'm not in the position to be mouthing off, not with no escape plan and all—but I promise you, the moment I get out of these cuffs, I'll beat the shit out of all of you. Jack included. Then I'm walking out of here. Simple as that."
He leaned back against the wall with a defiant stare.
There was silence.
"Well... wish you luck with that," Spike said coolly and walked out of the dungeon.
"At least the death stares settled," Frank muttered.
Astrid chuckled.
"What's so funny?" Bill asked.
"Pretty boy here thinks he can do all that," she replied, still giggling.
"At least he has a plan, right?" Bill said.
"That's gotta be the most densely packed threat I've heard. No offense, Onclave," Astrid added with a smirk before walking out.
"Heh... thanks for the assist, nerd," Frank muttered to Bill.
"Say, Bill..."
"Yeah?"
"How do you know my people aren't already inside your base?"
"Ohhh, still on that?" Bill replied, stopping at the gate.
"Well, first—our base? Correction. It's not something your people will ever find."
"Why not?" Frank asked, narrowing his eyes but still grinning.
"Because it can't be seen by the human eye," Bill said, turning away as the gate latched behind him.
Frank's grin faded halfway.
A woman in full black with tanned skin approached the cell, silently sliding in a tray with food and water.
"Eat up, Frank. I'm sure you're starving," Bill called over his shoulder.
As silence crept back into the lonely cell, Frank just sat there, eyes locked on the ceiling.
"There really is no way...?" he thought.
He scanned the stone walls again. "No freakin' windows either..."
---
"Hey!" a masculine voice called behind Elias.
Elias didn't move, keeping his back to the speaker. Footsteps closed in.
A firm hand clapped his shoulder. "Haven't seen you around here before. Why don't you turn around and lose that hood, huh?"
The voice belonged to a demi-human man, his large cow-like ears twitching.
What do I do...? Elias thought. Attacking him here's a dumb move... too many civilians. Children, even.
He slowly turned, lifting his hood.
The man narrowed his eyes.
A long beat.
"GOT YOU!" he suddenly shouted, startling Elias.
"W-what?"
"Just joking with ya! Chill out," the demi-human laughed, patting Elias on the back. "You looked like you were gonna draw that sword under your coat. You a shut-in or something?"
"Something like that," Elias muttered.
"Well, I see Lord Vance has blessed your afternoon!" the man called as he walked off, chuckling.
What did he just say? Elias thought, blinking. He knows of Vance?
He started walking through the town. Cobblestone streets with faint neon seams lit up the path underfoot. Market stalls lined the roads—some selling polished gems, others distributing potions or metalwork. Floating crystal lanterns bobbed above the vendors, each glowing a soft hue that matched their wares. A few humans mingled among demi-humans: beastfolk with feline eyes, scaled-skinned merchants, a woman with vines threading through her braided hair.
The town was lively.
"Hey, mister!" a little girl ran up to him.
"Huh?"
She smiled, offering him a small bouquet of glowing blue lilies.
"This is for you!"
He took them, blinking.
"May Vance grant you your deepest desires!" she chirped, then dashed back to her mother, who smiled kindly at him.
But Elias didn't smile back. He slowly stepped backward, watching the streets.
"Vance really blessed the harvest this year!"
"May Vance bless your day."
"Oh, your husband returned with the group? Hail Vance!"
The deeper he looked, the more signs there were.
He passed a stone well carved with strange graffiti glowing violet.
VANCE REDEEMS THOSE WHO WORSHIP HIS NAME
This whole town... they're all Vance followers, Elias thought. He pulled out his communicator—no signal.
Dammit... I can't reach Raymond.
Then he overheard them.
"Yeah, they finally caught him! Isn't it great?!"
Two people stood near a shop: a man in black with a sword, and a demi-human woman with dog-like features and a bow.
"He's kinda handsome, don't you think?" the woman giggled, tugging at the jacket she wore.
Elias's breath caught.
That's Frank's jacket...
He stepped forward, eyes locked on the pair.
They've got him. And they're celebrating.
I have to move... now.